Bénédicte Gercke started her career at IFRA in 1996 as a Material Research Engineer. Subsequently, she joined News UK (then News International) in 1999 in a Technical Support role for the Newsprint Purchasing team. Here, she managed several key projects, such as the configuration and launch of SAP and papiNet systems, playing an important part in automating and modernising the company’s day-to-day paper buying operations.

When the company made a £600 million investment in 3 brand new, state-of-the-art newspaper printing plants across the UK, she was seconded to oversee the system specification, implementation and testing of the new fully-automated reelroom system, namely the Aurosys system from Manroland.

Ms. Gercke then moved to work full-time at Newsprinters Broxbourne in 2008 as their Material Handling Manager. In this role, she was in charge of all reelroom-related processes and operating staff as well as part of the team who ensured the print site received ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 accreditation in 2010/2011.

At the beginning of 2012, she moved back to the Newsprint Purchasing team in London and later on that year was made Category Director for Paper & Energy, looking after the paper, gas and electricity portfolio for the company. 

She is also the mother of 3 children, aged 11, 9 and 3.